Ventilating and deodorizing toilet



Patented Aug. 27, 1946 VEN TILATING AND DEODORIZIN G TOLET Fred n ow'ens, Richmond, Calif. Application February 5, 1945, Serial No. 576,255

s claims. (o1. Lil-215) This invention, air conditioning apparatus, is specically designed for the aeration and removal of objectionable odors from water closets and the like, though it can be readily adapted to other air conditioning purposes. When installed in connection with a water closet, it can be used for conditioning the air in the room by setting the controls for continuous operation, leaving the seat of the water closet open. It can also be installed as a separate air conditioning unit without connection to anything other than a supply of water under pressure and a drain. l

The objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:

First, to provide aerating and odor absorbing means for water closets and the like, and which will operate solely through a source of water under pressure.

Second, to provide apparatus which when installed in connection with a flush tank for a toilet bowl may be made to operate as air conditioning means for any desired length of time, at will.

Third, to provide apparatus of the type outlined, which when installed in connection with a iiush tank, can be controlled by the same lever used for ilushing the toilet.

Fourth, to provide apparatus as outlined which can be constructed as a unit for installation in a flush tank in place of the conventional ush pipe or iiush chamber. Y

Fifth, to provide apparatus as outlined which when installed in a flush tank may be made operable selectively with the flushing operation through manual control of the conventional ushing handle.

Sixth, to provide apparatus as outlined which is simple in construction, easy to install, low in cost, and economical to operate.

Seventh, to provide an air conditioning unit which can be installed in a flush tank for operation in connection with a toilet bowl, and which can, at will, be installed for airconditioning in any location where a supply of water under pressure and drainage facilities are available, and which unit will be of the simplest possible construction. y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description is read on the drawing forming a part ofthis specication, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a flush tank with the cover removed and showing the invention installed therein. y

Fig. 2 is a sectional front elevation of the flush tank showing the invention installed therein and` shown partly in section.

Fig, 3 illustrates one modification of the airwater separator column, formed as anV integral part of the ilush tank.

Fig. 4 shows therelative positions of the control means when set for operation of the airconditioning apparatus and corresponds to a section'taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, but showing the control means set for flushing the toilet.

Fig. 6 illustrates the indicating means for lthe flush handle or control lever.

Fig. 7 shows a modification of the air-escape vent and which may be located at any desired position within the flush tank.

The invention is illustrated as being installed in a toilet flush tank, which may be constructed of any suitable material, such as porcelain, metal, plastic, or wood. A specially constructed tank is shown, though the invention is not limited to special tank constructions, but can be installed in any conventional or standard tank, or, even without a tank. i' t A water supply pipe I 0 is conventionally secured and sealed through the bottom ll of the tank and in communication with a supply of water under pressure l2, the pipe extendingupwardly inside the tank as indicated at I3 and terminating at its upper end in a float-controlled tank lling valve (not shown) which also bleeds water through a vtube I4 into the ush pipe through the conventional overow pipe to ill the toilet bowl to a level with the top of the conventional trap following iiushing of the toilet and while the tank is being relled. The parts mentioned above do not form a part of the invention except insofar as they contribute to specific combinations and operations.

The invention consists essentially of a suction column and an air-water separator column interconnected by a spray chamber, and with a nozzle connected to a supply of water under pressure directing a spray of water under force through the spray chamber to the separator co1- umn to draw air through the suction column and Wash and humidify the air as it passes through the spray chamber, then separate excess moisture from the washed air, permitting the washed'air to 'escape and returning the separatedwater to the suction column which has communication with suitable drainage. 1

The invention can therefore be applied to the ilush pipe below the tank, butis illustrated in its preferred form installed Within the tank.' In

l or provided with other flush pipe connects with a flushing chamber which extends upwardly into the tank and which lterminates at its upper end in a flush valve seat and has an overflow pipe connected to one side,

` under which latter conditions the ushing chamber and overflow pipe is replaced by the flushing and suction chamber I and integral flush valve l seat I6; the flushing and suction chamber and `associated parts beingrelatively exaggerated asto height for purposes of clarity.

The lower portion I1 of the flushingand suetion chamber I5 is preferably interiorly threaded Y to receive the threaded end of the flush pipe I8,

II of the tank, and also between the draw-up nut and the bottomV I I, toV assure a perfect seal and easy installation of the unit.

The valve seat I6 is provided to suit the con-1 ventional tank float valve 2| which has a stem 22 terminating in a stop'23. A iinger 24 has a loop 25 on one end to slidably t this stem and is connected at its other end to the trip lever 26 as indicated at 21, this trip lever being shown as intermediately pivoted in a bracket 28 which is formed integral with the bearing 29 for the flush handle or lever 30, and as usually arranged, this handle 30 will lift the valve 2I olf its seat I5 with movement ofthe handle in either direction from they position shown in Fig. 1, and in Fig. 6.

The flushing and suction chamber I5 has formed integrally with or threadedly secured through one side as indicated at 3|, a jet-spray nozzle 32 which directs a spray of water under considerable force through the spray chamber. l

Though the nozzle is illustrated as actually extending through the iiushing and suction cham.. ber and mounted in one wall thereof, it is not limited to any specific position or mounting with the exception that its spray be directed axially through the spray chamber in a direction away from the flushing and suction chamber.

This nozzleisuconnected through a pipe 33 with the Water supply pipe I3V as indicated at` 34, and a suitable valve 35`is provided for control of this communication 33. n Extending Yfrom the other side of the flushing and suction chamber VI5, in axial alignment with the spray nozzle 32 is a spray chamber havingv a cross-sectional area to suit the speciiic nozzle forcreation of maximum suction or displacement of air in the flushingand suction pipe, the other end of the spray chamberY being integral with or secured to the air-Water separating column, the one shown in Fig. l being a section of pipe 31'while the modification in Fig. 3 shows the column as formed integral with the tank by means of a partition 38 through which the pipe 36 is secured and sealed.

A combined drainpipe and trap 39 connects between'the lower end of the separator column and the iiushing and suction chamber to drain' separated water from the column. Suitable moisture collecting and separating means is provided in the separating column, Vsuch as baffles 40, or screens 4|; and if desired, deodorants or aromatics 42 can be placed on the baiiiesv or screens, or in the bottom ofthe column. The column also functions as the overflow pipe for the tank, so that the conventional overflow pipe Y suitable attachingV means, and suitable packing I9 is provided between the bottom of the suction chamber and the bottom tiff 4 can be dispensed with, the iiller tube I4 being then extended to flow into the separator column as illustrated in Figs. l and 2.

Preferably, when used in connection with a toilet, the washed air is directed downwardly toward the oor, therefore a down-draft passage is shown as formed by a partition 43 formed integrally with the tank and with the bottom end of the rpassage open between the partition 43 and the side wall 44 of the tank as indicated at 45. In lieuv thereof, a pipe 46 can be mounted in any desired position in the tank, to extend vthrough the bottom II, a suitable passage being provided the bottomV along with suitable sealing means.

As will be noted, the flushing and suction chamber I5, valve seat i5, spray chamber 36, separator column 31, and drain-back and trap 39, can be cast as a unit, with the nozzle 32 suitably secured in position, and with the pipe 33 with the control valve 35 connected to the nozzle, to make a complete unit ready for installation.

Special unitary control Vmeans is desirable in connection with flush tank operation, one which will bey selectively controllable for operation of the airfconditioning means and for ushing of the toilet, at Iwill, and this is accomplished through a special crank and link mechanism in place of the single crank and link mechanism required only for flushing. Y

The control system is shown in its neutral or normal position in Figs, l and 6. The valve may be either the quarter-turn lever type, or as illustrated, the lift-lever type, in which the valve is normally closed by an internal spring, lifting of the end 41 of the lever -48 opening the valve, which closes upon release of the lever. This type of valve will open through either, lifting, or depression of the lever. It is similar in construction and operation to the conventional toilet ush valve which opens with 'pressure on the handle in either direction.

The trip shaft 49 has a crank lever 50 intermediate its length and which crank lever is connected to the trip lever 29 through a link 5I which is pivoted tothe trip lever at 52 and has an elongated slot 53 at the other end for cooperation with the pivot 54m the end of lever 50. Y

A second crank lever 55 is formed or mounted on the end of the trip shaft 425, and a connection 56 is connected at one end to this crank lever as indicated at 51, with the other end terminating in an engaging member 58'for cooperation with the underside of the valve-operating lever 48, the connection being slidable in a passage 59 formed through the lever. A stop element or abutmentV 69 is formed on the crank lever -55 or projects from the end of the shaft 49 for cooperation with the connection 5S when the crank 55 has just passed over dead center to latch the lever 48 in open-valve position.

1 A suitable indicating dial `6I is mounted on the front of the flush tank, and can readily be secured v With-a flush tank, is as follows: Under Vnormal conditions the control lever or iiush handle 30 is in the neutral position shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the tank is filled with water as indicated at.65, and the valves 2l and 35 are both closed, levers 50 and 55 being in the position shown in Fig. 2.

When the conditioningfapparatus is to be set in operation, the control lever 38 is moved to the position 30 in Fig. 4. Lever 50 through this move ment swings over to the position shown in Fig. 4 from that shown in Fig. 2, but because of the slot 53 this movement has no eifect on the trip lever 26, the pivot 54 merely riding back and forth in the slot 53 while lever 55 swings to the position shown where it is stopped through cooperation of theside of the connection 56 with the projection 60 just after the pivot 51 has passed .over dead center for retention of that position, the connection '56 pulling the valve lever 48 up as indicated to open the valve 35. The normal urgence of the lever 48 will control lever 55 in its oil-center position.

With valve 35 open, water under pressure is supplied through the pipe I0, valve 35 and pipe 33 to the nozzle 32 from which it issues in the form of a power spray as indicated at 66, drawing air from the toilet bowl through the combined flush and suction pipe I8 and suction chamber l5, drawing and then forcing the air through the spray chamber 36 as indicated by the ow indicators, and thence into the air-'water separating column 3l where the washed and humidifled air is separated from free moisture as it passes up through the baflles or screens 40 or 4| and aromatized if desired, the air then passing out of the upper end and thence between the level 65 of the water in the tank and the cover 61 which is preferably sealed to the tank as indicated at 68, and thence down through the passage 69 or 46 as indicated by the arrows 'l0 and 1|, the separated water flowing back to the flush pipe through the tube 39.

When operation of the conditioning apparatusV is to be discontinued, or the toilet flushed, the handle is pressed down from its position 30' and it will drop of its own accord to the position 30, Fig. 6, levers 55, 50 and 48 returning to their normal position shown in Fig. 2 to release the valve- 35 to close.

To flush the toilet, the lever 30 is moved to the position 30 in Fig. 5 which moves levers 50 and 55 to the position shown while connection 56 merely slides down through the passage 59 in valve lever 48, while lever 50 pulls down on the end 12 of lever 26 with lever 26 through the ringer f 21 in cooperation With the valve stem Z2 lifting the valve 2| off its seat I6; handle 30 returning to its normal position as soon as it is released.

If the apparatus is to be used for conventional air conditioning, the valve 35 should be replaced by any conventional adjustable valve, and the lower end of the chamber I5 connected to a suitable drain, while the upper end can be left open, the air then ilowing in through the top, so that no changes are necessary to convert from flush tank installations to conventional air condition-` ing of rooms and the like.

I claim:

l. Air conditioning apparatus, in combination; a hush pipe having a valve seat at the upper end and a oat valve therefor, a separating column, and a spray chamber communicating between said llush pipe below said valve seat and the lower portion of said separating column and having a nozzle for discharging and spraying water under pressure into the lower portion of said separating column to draw air through and from said/flush pipe and wash and humidify said air and discharge the same into said separating column for separation of the washed and humidiiied air from free moisture, a control valve for said nozzle, and control means for said control valve and said iioat valve, and drainage means for the lower end and an air outlet for the upper end of said separating column.

2. Air conditioning apparatus, in combination; a container; a flush pipe having a valve seat at its upper end and a float valve therefor; a separating chamber; a spray chamber having a spray nozzle therein conne'ctable to a source of water under pressure said spray chamber having one end in communication with said suction cham*- ber below said iioat valve seat and the other end in communication with the lower portion of said separating column with said spray nozzle directed through said spray chamber away from said suction chamber to draw air from said suction chamber and wash said air and discharge the washed air out of the other end of said spray chamber into said separating column, and air-moisture separating means in said separating column for the washed air and receiving the discharge from said nozzle; drainage means including a fluid trap for the lower end of said separating column; and manual control means having operative connections with said spray nozzle and with said float valve.

3. Air conditioning apparatus forflush tanks y having arlush pipe anda iiush valve therefor,

and a supply of water under pressure; a spray nozzle connected to said supply of water under pressure and operating diametrically through said flush pipe below said ush valve; a separator column having an air outlet at the upper end; a spray chamber communicating between said flush pipe and the lower portion of said separator column and in axial alignment with said spray nozzle to receive the spray of water therefrom; a control valve for said nozzle, and manually operable means for controlling said control valve and said flush valve at will for operation of said air con'- ditioning apparatus and discharging the contents of the tank at will; and drainage means for the lower end and an air outlet for the upper end of said separator column.

4. Air conditioning apparatus comprising; a ilush pipe terminating at its upper end in a seat for a flush valve; a separating chamber having an air outlet at its upper end; a spray chamber communicating between said flush pipe below said seat and the lower portion of said separating chamber and having a nozzle connected to a source of water under pressure and directing water under pressure through said spray chamber toward said separating chamber to draw air from said flush pipe, wash the air within the spray chamber, and discharge the mixture of air and water into said separating chamber for separation of washed air and excess moisture, and a trapped drain for the bottom of said separating chamber, and control means for said flush valve and said nozzle.

5. An air conditioning unit for installation in a flush tank having a cover, aviiush valve andV operating means therefor, and a supply of Water under pressure, in combination; a combined iiushing and suction chamber connectable at its lower end to a flush pipe passing through the vbottom of the iiush tank, and having a valve seat for said flush valve at its upper end; a separating column having an air outlet attsupper end` and extending above the high-Water .level for said tank and having a Huid-trapped bypass from its lower end to said combined flushing and suction chamber; a spray chamber communicating between said combined flushing and suction chamber below said valve seat and the lower portion of said separator column, and a spray nozzle in communication with said supply of water under pressure and located in said suction chamber and directed to spray water under pressure through said spray chamber into said separator column to create suction to draw air from said flushing and suction chamber and wash the air and discharge the same into said separator column for separation of excess moisture vfrom 'the washed air and escape of the washed air through said air outlet and of the water to said ushing and suction chamber; and manual control means for said water supply to said nozzle.

6. An aerating unit for installation in a flushing tank having a float valve and control means therefor and a ush pipe passage formed through the bottom of the tank, in combination a tubular member terminating at its upper end in a valve seat for the i'loat Valve; a spray chamber in communication with said tubular member, a nozzle axially aligned in said spray chamber and mounted through one side wall 0f said tubular member below said valve seat, a separator column having an air outlet at its upper end and having said spray chamber in communication with its lower end; an operative connection between said nozzle and the control means for the oat valve; a drain for water separated and communicating between the lower portion ofv said separator column and said tubular member and including a fluid trap;

8 said separator column simultaneously functioning as an overiiow passager in connection with said drain for the tank.

'7. An air conditioning unit for installation in a flush tank comprising; a flushing chamber arranged for connection at its lower end to a ush pipeand terminating at its upper end in a seat for a iiush valve; a separator column extending upwardly and terminating at the tank high water level and having an air outlet at its upper end and a trapped drain to said ilushing chamber at its lower end, and a combined suction and spray chamber communicating between said ushing chamber below said seat and the lower portion of said separator column; a nozzle mounted to direct a jet and spray of water through said combined suction and sprayjchamber from said flushing chamber to said separator column to create suction to draw air from said flushing chamber and force the same through said combined suction and spray chamber to wash the air and discharge the washed air into said separator column for separation of the washed air from excess moisture; a control valve for said nozzle and including a connection for a source of water under pressure; and manual control means for said control valve for operation of said unit at Will.

8. A structure as defined in claim 7; supporting means for aromatics or deodorants in said separator column, a down-draft column in said tank and extending from theupper end thereof above the high-'water line for the tank and kdown through the bottom of the tank to discharge the washed, humidified and deodorized air vto atmosphere below the tank.

FRED L. OWENS. 

